Web Log

The two images I've posted today are those that I just entered into the John J. Audubon 8th Juried Exhibition, themed "Drawn from Nature". Since I haven't done any drawing for a long time. I felt like I was ready and really needed it. So here are some honeycombs and honeybees, plus the toad that lives on our property. I love the handmade paper which I stained with walnut ink first, for the bees.
This piece is bittersweet since I lost my bees recently. I was hopeful that they were going to make it through the winter. They didn't. When I went to check on the hive, it was totally empty except for a few bees with their heads in the cells, but they were dead. There was also a big fat mouse that had just taken up residence in there, but not long enough to do any damage. Bummer.
I have two new hives coming soon. They were twice the cost of my original hive. Beekeepers have lost a devastating number of hives this year, so while I'm comforted that I'm not the only one...it still really stings--sorry--that bees are dying at an all time high rate. This is serious stuff. Less bees means higher prices for our honey, vegetables, nuts and fruit and all of their by-products. Be prepared. I know you're wondering why. Me too. Some say it's GMO seeds by Monsanto and Bayer that they coated with pesticides that stay systemically in the plant the whole time that it grows...as opposed to being sprayed and it dilutes and eventually wears off. This means that the pollinators are exposed to it every time they collect nectar and pollen and worse constantly feed it to their brood. Others say it's disease, fungus, etc., whatever it is it will have a huge impact on our environment and the creatures that live in it as well. Birds, frogs, turtles, anything that eats plants, fruit, nuts, veg, bugs, worms and pollinators. If you can find a way to be involved, please do it. It's important.
The next few months will be crazy busy, but I'll be back to share it with you, especially if my work is juried into this show.